SupermanThe Most Influential Characters Project

This is an example presentation so that you can see what is expected of you on this part of the project.

Minimum requirements:• 7 slides: title slide, character background,

overview of the primary source(s), three “influence” slides, and conclusion (or significance) slide

• At least one image per slide• One title per slide• Explanatory notes on each slide

Intro: The Character

• First “costumed superhero’• Lived otherwise as Clark

Kent, the mild-mannered reporter

• Strongman based on Hercules and Samson

• Kryptonite weakens his powers, like cutting Samson’s hair weakened his

• Alien, though looking and acting in most ways like a typical buff man

The Superman Stories

• First story published in 1938

• Discovered and adopted by a Kansas farmer and his wife

• Raised as Clark Kent and imbued with a strong moral compass.

• Very early he started to display superhuman abilities, which upon reaching maturity he resolved to use for the benefit of humanity.

• Helps victims of crime and fights criminal masterminds

Influence on Literature

• Introduced the whole costumed superhero genre to America and then the rest of the world.

• First popular protagonist to use superhero powers to fight evil

• “Father of superheroes”

• Many novels have been inspired by Superman

• The graphic novel owes its existence to Superman

Influence on Comics

• Success of the initial Superman comics paved the way for all future heroic exploits

• Influences the whole superhero genre in comic books

• Inspired the following characters• Captain Marvel• Captain America• Batman• Wonder Woman• Supergirl• And many, many more

Influence on Film

• Made into TV series, several films

• Spawned other successful superhero films like The Dark Knight, Spiderman, Ironman, X-Men, The Avengers, etc.

Influence on Television

• Smallville: TV series based on Superman comic book series

• Focuses on the fictional childhood of Clark Kent, growing up in Smallville, Kansas.

• Already in its 9th season

Influence on Television

• Inspired the 80’s television series “The Greatest American Hero,” a Superman-style spoof

• Hero is a “tights and flights” character

• Also inspired the recent TV series Heroes

Influence on Culture

• American cultural icon

• Idiom: “I’m not Superman”

• Perennially favorite Halloween costume

• Character represented in a Macy’s day parade float

• stylized magenta and gold "S" emblem Superman wears on his chest, as a fashion symbol

Why Superman Matters

• Now a household name and symbol of truth and justice

• First to bring the virtues of truth and justice to mass market children’s literature

• Became an icon of the ideal of “the American way”